The fleshy, berry-like, bursting or non-bursting fruits often have a blackening adherent flower remnant.

[1] In classifications before the use of molecular phylogenetic methods, Cereeae was one of nine tribes into which the subfamily Cactoideae was divided.

A broader circumscription of Cereeae, including Browningieae and Trichocereeae and comprising most columnar cacti of South American origin, was found to be monophyletic.

[4] Uebelmanniinae Aylosterinae Rebutiinae Trichocereinae Gymnocalyciinae Cereinae Historically, the circumscription of subtribes and genera in the Cereeae has been "highly controversial", and subject to considerable change.

[2][4] As of December 2024[update], Plants of the World Online accepted some genera that were treated as synonyms in the 2010 and 2023 studies.